Biography

About the Artist

ARTIST BIOGRAPHY

Julie Stonefelt was born and raised in the Pacific Northwest. Much of her childhood was spent on Whidbey Island in Puget Sound, where her love of nature and wildness began.

Stonefelt earned her Bachelor of Science degree from The Evergreen State College. For more than twelve years she worked with wildlife rehabilitation and environmental organizations in New York and Washington states. In addition to her work as an artist she is a Naturalist with Seattle Public Utilities at the Cedar River Watershed.

Stonefelt uses a variety of mediums for expression including pen & ink, watercolor, and prose. Stonefelt's work is most deeply influenced by encounters with animals, both in nature and the hospital setting.

She has also been influenced by individuals who boldly and eloquently share a love of nature. Some of these people are: authors Brenda Peterson, Jack Turner and Terry Tempest Williams; poets Mary Oliver and Gary Snyder; musician/songwriter Laurie Lewis; and painter Georgia O’Keefe.

Stonefelt lives in Edmonds, Washington with husband and fellow naturalist Kevin Mack and their three rescued tabby cats Henry, Oliver and Otis.

ARTIST STATEMENT

I started painting birds (feathers in particular) while working with injured and

orphaned raptors in New York State. One morning as I entered a recuperating

red-tailed hawk’s cage I found a feather on the floor. Turning it in my hand I realized that each feather is a unique work of art - a reflection of the birds’ spirit and way of being in the world. Since I could not keep those feathers, I painted them in my field journal. This way I would always have a glimmer of the birds’ beauty with me. I began sharing my work with the community as a way for others to gain a deeper understanding and appreciation for the wildness all around us.

ARTIST RESUME

Education

2001 Bachelor of Science | The Evergreen State College

Major in Environmental Science, minor in Wildlife Rehabilitation

Related Courses

2004-2005 Mentorship from author John Murray

2001-2002 Weekly Writers’ workshop with author Brenda Peterson

2001 Nature Writer’s Workshop with author Susan Zwinger

1999 -2000 Studied with watercolor artist Gene Talbott

1996-1997 Studied with Haida master wood carver Ralph Bennett

Honors, Awards & Grants

2005 Earthwatch Artist Fellowship

1999 North Cascades Institute Scholarship for Nature Writer’s Workshop

1997 Photo of the Year award, Lake Washington High School

Related Experience

2005 November | Nature Journaling workshop for at-risk high school students

Fall & Winter |Invited to teach nature journaling in the ArtsNow!
Program, Edmonds Community College

Solo Juried Exhibitions
2007 November | Featured Artist | Kirkland Performance Center | Kirkland, WA

June/July | Featured Artist | ZuKafe | Edmonds, WA

April | Featured Artist | Wade James Theatre | Edmonds, WA

2005 May | Puget Sound Bird Fest | Edmonds, WA

Group Juried Exhibitions
2007 September | Wild Art Open Studio | Edmonds, WA

July | ArtSplash! | Artists Connect |Edmonds, WA

June/July | Traditions | Guild of Natural Scientific Illustrators |
Edmonds, WA

2006 June | Third Thursday | Edmonds Art Walk |Edmonds, WA

2005 December | Open House Show | Flying Squirrel Cottage | Edmonds, WA

November | Holiday Show | Millers Fine Art Gallery | Leavenworth, WA

October | Out of the Blue | Lynwood Arts Commission | Lynwood, WA

May | Third Thursday | Edmonds Art Walk |Edmonds, WA

April | Grand Opening Show | Brier City Hall | Brier, WA

October | Third Thursday | Edmonds Art Walk | Edmonds, WA

2004 December | Holiday Show | Dooley’s Dog House | Kirkland, WA

August | Late Summer Show | Miller Fine Arts Gallery | Leavenworth, WA

Commissions

2006 Private Collectors through Miller Fine Arts Gallery

2005 Wilderness Awareness School

Bibliography

“Celebrate Summer at June Art Walk.” Enterprise, 09 June 06: 07.

Publications

“Wildlife Artifacts as Educational Tools” NWRA Conference Proceedings 2007

“The Importance of Wildlife Rehabilitation in Conservation” The Journal of Rehabilitation 2002

“Fly like an Eagle” PAWS Magazine 2002

“Natural Forest Regeneration” Valley View Newspaper 200

“Field Notes” In Context Magazine 2000

Common Plants of O.O. Denny Park, Self Published 1999

Financial Basics, A Money Management Guide For Students (Susan Knox) content & tone editor 2000

MY WORK AS A NATURALIST, ARTIST, AND EDUCATOR IS DRIVEN BY PASSION & HOPE.